Saudi Gazette report

MAKKAH – Minister of Media Awwad Al-Awwad rejected categorically any attempts to politicize Haj. He said that Saudi Arabia welcomes Muslims from all parts of the world to perform this religious ritual, which is one of the five pillars of Islam. He was speaking to reporters during an inspection tour of the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah on Thursday. His tour covered offices of the Ministry of Media as well as Radio and Television Corporation and the Saudi Press Agency in addition to information centers in the holy sites.

The minister reviewed the special arrangements and preparations made to receive the local and global media to provide mechanisms and equipment and technologies for the coverage of Haj. Al-Awwad said the ministry has equipped several media centers in Makkah and the holy sites this year to serve its guests and assist journalists and media professionals within and outside the Kingdom, by providing them with all the services needed by them.

The minister said that the Kingdom is hosting more than 800 media professionals from outside the Kingdom to cover the Haj rituals.